Canada's Naval History

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Canadian War Museum

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The Later Cold WarA Changing Fleet

Canada's navy changed and shrank in the latter part of the Cold War, but continued to face threats and meet alliance obligations. Despite the addition of some newer vessels, by the late 1970s it faced "rust-out" due to the gradual deterioration of ships and equipment.

HMCS Gatineau

This photograph shows the destroyer escort HMCS Gatineau in its original configuration, shortly before it began an extensive refit.

Intended to increase the ship's anti-submarine capabilities, the refit included the removal of the ship's after gun mounting (centre right) and one of the two Limbo anti-submarine mortars whose triple angled tubes are just visible on the right, and the installation of more capable weapons and sensors. The jack flying at Gatineau's bow (left) indicates that this photograph was taken after the February 1968 creation of the Canadian Forces Maritime Command, which replaced the Royal Canadian Navy, but before the beginning of Gatineau's refit in late 1969 or early 1970.